One of my very favorite travel experts is Tom Brosnahan.  Tom is an unstoppable traveler and writer - he's written over 40 guidebooks for Berlitz, Frommer's, and Lonely Planet. He's written his own memoir, Turkey: Bright Sun, Strong Tea (look for our book review soon!).  He also publishes travel articles for various magazines and journals...so you know, when you're researching the site, that he knows his subject.  We've interviewed Tom about Turkey Travel Planner and were extremely impressed with his research, breadth of knowledge, and enthusiasm for travel.  One of Tom's many projects is an excellent site for travelers heading to the East Coast, the New England Travel Planner. Filled with Where and When to Go, Where to Stay, Transportation, Costs, Travel Details, Tours and Routes, Funny Stuff, and State-by-State Guides, the New England Travel Planner is packed with great information.

We were lucky enough to sit down and talk with Tom about this site - here's what he had to say...

 Lonesome Lake 

WE:  Please tell us about your travel site, New England Travel Planner...

TB: NewEnglandTravelPlanner.com is the successor to my New England guidebooks. I wrote the first Frommer's guide to New England in 1978, and the first Lonely Planet New England guide in 1996. When the Web appeared, a comprehensive New England website was the next logical step.

WE:  You've got a great resource in your New England Almanac - are there any highlights that you don't miss?

TB: Every website is a work in progress. NewEnglandTravelPlanner.com is well along in development, but there are still lots of niches I hope to explore in more detail. I want to make comprehensive, easy-to-use guides to hiking, bike trails, historic trains, art museums, auto museums, etc.

Burlington Church

WE: What led to your interest in creating this site?

TB: I've always loved New England. I grew up in Pennyslvania, but went to college near Boston, and I've lived here ever since. Although my work as a travel writer took me to all parts of the world, I spent most of my vacation time exploring New England.

WE:  New England has a distinct culture, different from other areas of the U.S. Can you tell us more about these cultural differences?

TB: History and tradition are very important. Historic preservation and careful protection of natural resources has kept the region beautiful. Concord, Massachusetts, where I live, was incorporated in 1635. The first victorious battle of the American revolution was fought at our North Bridge. Boston was "the Athens of America" in the 1800s, and New England schools and colleges are still an educational magnet for the entire world. Other regions of the USA are still rapidly developing and changing character. New England is New England, and people want to keep it that way.

Salt Marsh  

 WE:  How is the New England Travel Planner different from other travel sites about NE?

TB: Most travel websites are developed by computer experts who know how to design databases and advertising interfaces. I think this makes the websites impersonal. I write and lay out every one of my web pages by hand, with the "user experience" in mind, adding photos that bring to life what's on the page. I approach the Web the same way I did my guidebooks: with a clear picture in mind of the reader and the reader's wants and needs. I want to make a website that's a friendly travel advisor, not a database machine.

Swan boats 

WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

TB: Exploring, writing about, and photographing New England has taught me that you don't have to go far for fulfilling travel experiences. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau delighted in Concord, Massachusetts and never tired of wandering its streets, farms, woods, rivers and ponds. 19th-century travelers marveled at the beauty of New Hampshire's White Mountains and compared them favorably to mountain vistas in Europe. Travelers from all over the world come to sail the Maine coast—its natural beauty and traditional life are really world-class attractions. Want to see palaces? Go to Newport, Rhode Island and Bar Harbor, Maine, or visit Mark Twain's mansion at Nook Farm in Hartford, Connecticut. It's all here.

Nantucket wharf

WE: Thanks so much, Tom! You've inspired us to plan a trip to New England this year - I appreciate all the incredible details in your site.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.NewEnglandTravelPlanner.com

Cambridge scull

All photos courtesy and copyright of Tom Brosnahan, New England Travel Planner.